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Welcome to St Neots Tourist In formation
St Neotsw w w . h u n t s l e i s u r e . o r g
HUNTINGDONPrinces Street, Huntingdon PE29 3PHTel: 01480 388588Fax: 01480 388591Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours:1st April - 30th SeptemberMonday - Friday: 9.30am - 5.30pmSaturday: 9.30am - 5.00pm1st October - 31st MarchMonday - Friday: 10.00am - 5.00pmSaturday: 9.30am - 4.30pm
HISTORIC TOWN WALKw w w . h u n t s l e i s u r e . o r g
NotesontheWalkTurn left out of theTOURISTINFORMATIONCENTRE 1.Thisforms part of theStNeots Museum,which is located in thedistinctive former Victorian Police Station and MagistratesCourt. Proceed down New Streetand turn left into the HighStreet. Note the interesting details of the upper floors of thebuildings along the route. Cross the road at the pedestriancrossing.
Retrace your steps and turn into Church Walk.Onyour left isthe Community Centre 5,built as a Church School in 1860.On your right are some attractive 19th century cottages.Follow the pathway into the churchyard.
STMARY’S CHURCH 6was rebuilt in its present form in the15th century and was once nick-named ‘the Cathedral ofHuntingdonshire’ because of its impressive architecture. Thefirst parish church on the site was built in the 12th centuryand there are traces of 13th and 14th century work inside.The fine 130ft tower has a peal of 8 bells, and inside thereare many interesting carvings on the roof timbers.
Opposite is the 19th century flint and brick former vicarage.Tothe left is the red brick wall that once surrounded Old HallPlace, an 18th century mansion. A gateway survives, withgates in elaborate wrought iron. In the 1950’s anarchaeological dig revealed a large Anglo-Saxon settlementinthe area to the east of the wall.
Turn right onto Church Streetpast the redundant brickchimney on your right and across the restored bridge whichspans Hen Brook and leads into STMARY’S STREET 7.Youare now in the Eynesbury Conservation Area. On your right isthe new development known as ‘Navigation Wharf’. Thisarea was once the centre of the commercial use of the riverwhere barges unloaded coal and corn. It is also the site ofthe former Tebbutt’s woodyard. Eynesbury used to be aseparate parish divided from St Neots by HEN BROOKand isbasically a linear settlement, with the oldest propertiesbeing situated along St Mary’s Street. The oldest building inEynesbury is probably the CHEQUERS INN 8,which mayhave 16th century origins. No24 ST MARY’S STREET 9isafine late 17th century timber-framed, white rendered,building.
Continue down St Mary’s Street,through an attractivestreetscape, which leads up to STMARY’S CHURCH,Eynesbury 10.This building has a 12th century chancel andafine late 12th century north arcade and a nave with carvedcapitals. Inside, there is a good late 17th century carvedpulpit and a unique collection of early 16th century carvedbench ends, in the north aisle. James Toller, known as the‘Eynesbury Giant’, was 8’6” when he died in 1818 at the ageof 20. He was buried beneath the font to avoid the attentionofbodysnatchers.
Cross over intoMONTAGU STREETandturn immediately toyour right down School Lane. On the right is the old STMARY’S SCHOOL 11built circa 1868 in Gothic Style and nowconverted into a private residence. Notice the tumbled brickpanels on one gable at the east end and the bell turret onthe other gable wall. Continue to the end of School Lanewhere it joins a footpath, which meanders northwards backto Hen Brook. This route allows views westward acrossRIVERSIDE PARKand passes through a quiet landscapesetting. Playing fields are located on your right hand side,beyond which the rear elevation of Tudor House, the formerRectory 12,may be seen. This 17th century timber-framedbuilding has a peg tile roof and is set within maturelandscaped grounds. Follow the footpath along behind theBowling Green and back to Navigation Wharf.
Cross Hen Brook via the footbridge.Opposite is BROOKHOUSE 13,an elegant Georgian residence with sashwindows and a hipped roof. This building dates from about1700 and is considered one of the most architecturallyimportantin St Neots. The railings on the frontage weresaved from requisition in the Second World War owing totheir age and merit. Several of the buildings in the vicinitywere at one time alehouses, including the tallest one, whichis the white coloured, former BUSHEL AND STRIKE 14.Beforeturning left, look to your right and you will see several 18thand 19th century houses.
Continue left alongBROOK STREETto the corner with SouthStreet. Note the flood level tablet 15on the wall opposite,commemorating the last town flood in 1947. Turn into SouthStreet and then left into the Market Square.
At this end of the Market Square stands the old formerPAINES BREWERY 16,built in the early 19th century with asymmetrical façade and central carriageway with semi-elliptical rusticated arch. The former PRINT WORKS 17,also
Dri ft Through Time ...
ST NEOTSThe Old Court, 8 New StreetSt Neots PE19 1AETel: 01480 388788Fax: 01480 388791Email: [email protected]
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 9.30am - 4.30pm
ST IVESElectronic Tourist Information KioskSheep Market, St Ives
RAMSEY Electronic Tourist Information KioskGreat Whyte, Ramsey
WALK FACTS
Distance 1 mile approx.
Time to complete 1 hours approx.
Directly in front of you is FREEMAN’S 2the jewellers on thecorner of Church Walk. This is the oldest secular building inthe town, dating from the 16th century. It lay concealed formany years under a brick frontage but has since beenrestored to reveal its fine timbers and the wheatsheafcarving on its jettied upper storey.
Before proceeding down Church Walk, take a short walk pastFreemans to the east end of the High Street.This area isknown as THE CROSSbecause the medieval Town Cross oncestood here. The High Street is wider at this point and at onetime provided space for a medieval livestock market.
The building on the corner of Cambridge Street andHuntingdon Street was once a house 3.Here was born JohnBellingham, who achieved notoriety in 1812 by assassinatingthe Prime Minister, Mr Spencer Perceval. On the High Streetcorner, now forming part of the Westgate Department Store4,there was once an 18th century inn, known as TheGeorge. It is reputed that John Wesley preached in theAssembly Rooms on its first floor.
Getting Here…Located 70 miles north of London and 20 miles south ofPeterborough, Huntingdon can be reached by road from theA1 and the A14.
There are regular bus services from Cambridge, Peterborough,St Ives and St Neots.
Huntingdon has it’s own railway station. West Anglia GreatNorthern connects Huntingdon with London Kings Cross by afrequent 50 minute service. It is also well connected toPeterborough by West Anglia Great Northern and onto theNorth and Scotland by the Great North Eastern Railway.
Traveline (bus/coach/rail enquiries) Tel: 0870 6082608Multimap (maps/driving directions) www.multimap.com
STNEOTS MUSEUMSTMARY’S CHURCH
RIVERSIDEPARK
For details of accommodation vacancies, contact either of ourTourist Information Centres or call the HuntingdonshireAssociation for Tourism's Vacancy Line on Tel: 0870 2254858(national rate call).
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A large print version is available.Please call the Tourist InformationCentre for details.Huntingdonshire District Council in 2005Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this publication, no liability can beaccepted by the District Council for any omissions or inaccuracies.
A brief history of St Neots
The town of St Neots grew up around a Benedictine Priory,which was built in the parish of Eynesbury in the early 12thcentury, with the Priory church being dedicated in 1113. ThisPriory superseded a small monastery established by AngloSaxons, in which were housed the bones of Saint Neot, arevered Saxon monk. The pilgrims who came to pay theirrespects to this relic brought trade to the community, andafter the monks were granted a market charter in about1180, St Neots built its own parish church and gainedseparate parish status.
After the dissolution of the monasteries, between 1536-39,the Priory was abandoned and demolished, but by thenSt Neots was a flourishing market town.
There was much rebuilding of the town in the 17th century,and in the 18th century the river was dredged and sluicesbuilt, enabling goods to be brought in by boat. Merchantsand manufacturers set up businesses such as corn millingand brewing and the town expanded further.
The stage-coaches and later the railway increased prosperityin the 19th century, but the greatest expansion took place inthe 20th century. Developments in the 1960s brought moreindustry into the town and with the absorption of Eynesbury,Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon,St Neots became the largest town in Cambridgeshire, with apopulation, at present, of around 28,000.
The Riverside Park is thehub of this expandingtown, yet the central area of St Neots still retains much of its country market town character. The jewel mosaicon the Market Square
reminds visitors of the enterprise of the Saxon founders of the town and reflectsthe desire of the present generation to build on their heritage.
Notes continued…built in the early 19th century, is nearby. Several fine 18thcentury merchant houses are located on the south side of theMarket Square and parts of other buildings, including theformer OLD FALCON 18 are 16th and 17th century.
In the centre of the fine Market Square, which is one of thelargest in the country, is the DAY COLUMN 19. This cast ironstructure was erected in 1822 by John Day, a local brewer, toenhance the Market Square and to provide lighting. TheMarket Square has been used since before 1135, when themonks of The Priory (which stood to the north) were granteda market charter. The group of monks in the centre of theSquare surrounding the Day Column, remind visitors of thestalls which were set up near the priory walls, which werethe forerunners of the present shops and inns. Continue towalk across the Market Square, towards the Bridge. If youlook down at your feet, you will see the MOSAIC OF THEKING ALFRED JEWEL 20, with its reputed image of St Neot.He was a Cornish monk, who had been well regarded by theKing and who died around AD 875. Cross the road past theformer Old Falcon, towards THE BRIDGE 21 . The modernbridge replaced an early 17th century stone bridge whichitself replaced a timber structure dating from the 16thcentury. In 1648, it was the scene of a skirmish betweenRoyalists and Roundheads, culminating in a victory for thelatter. The original bridge across the Ouse was a timber oneof 72 arches, built in the 12th century. Note the RiversideGarden on your left.
Cross the road and turn into the lane called THE PRIORY.Note the 17th century plaster panel in the side of the BridgeHotel, which was originally a butcher’s shop. A little way
down, on the left, on the front of Priory Terrace, is a stoneplaque 22 showing where the Priory Gatehouse stood untilits demolition in 1814.
At the end of the lane is PRIORY HOUSE 23 built in the late18th century. Further north are the OAST HOUSE andMALTINGS 24. These 18th century buildings are all thatremains of John Day’s brewery, which once covered all thearea between here and the river. He acquired the brewery in1814 from William Fowler, who built it. Most of the brewerybuildings were demolished in the 1960’s but the ‘OastHouse’, which was a kiln for drying barley, was preservedand is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The Priory Centre,Town Council Offices and the Public Library now occupy partof the former brewery site.
Retrace your steps and walk around by the front of the publiclibrary and back towards the Market Square via a small carpark. You are now on the site of THE PRIORY 25. From thispoint, look north-east to a distant view of PAINE’S FLOURMILL 26. This 4 storey building is Grade II listed, late 19thcentury and is topped with a spire forming an impressivelandmark feature. The building has decorated windowopenings and diapered brickwork. Cross Priory Lane and headtowards the Market Square via the Cross Keys Mall.
On arriving at the High Street, the former CROSS KEYS 27may be seen on your left and is the descendant of an innthat served medieval pilgrims. This building has a 17thcentury timber frame and is faced in 18th century brick. Itwas a coaching inn before the arrival of the railways, whenSt Neots acted as a key staging post for horse drawncarriages on their way to London or the North. The MarketSquare contained several other inns where travellers couldrest and refresh themselves. Its layout, together with theyards and alleys behind archways, reflect the original narrowmedieval burgage plots. Turn left into the High Street andturn left into New Street.
Now finish the trail at the Museum or continue north to thejunction of Tan Yard and New Street. Notice the formerBAPTIST GRAVEYARD 28 that has been converted into apleasant garden. Opposite to it, the BAPTIST CHAPEL 29,built in 1816, was one of the first buildings in New Street.On the walls of both chapel and garden are some interestingold memorials. Note the blue disc on the building opposite,which commemorates the St Neots Quads, born in 1935.
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THE DAY COLUMN MOSAIC OF KING ALFRED’S JEWEL19 20
Win a Short Break in HuntingdonshireWe monitor our service to ensure that we bring you thehighest standards possible. Please help us by returning thisquestionnaire to the address overleaf, by 30 November 2006.You will then be entered into our FREE prize draw, to win£50.00 Marks and Spencer Vouchers.
Title First Name
Surname
Address
Postcode
Tel Email
1. If you are a non-resident, what is the main reason for your visit toHuntingdonshire?
Short break (1-3 nights) Holiday (3+ nights)
Visiting friends and relatives Business visit
Day trip Visit an attraction
Group visit
2. Approximately how much did you spend on your day out?
3. Where did you pick up your copy of the Town Trail?
4. Did you complete the Town Trail…
Alone? As a couple? As part of a family?
With friends? In a tour group?
5. Did this Town Trail increase your awareness of St Neots?
Yes No
6. What is your overall impression of the Town Trail?
Excellent Good Average Poor
7. What is your age group?
18-24 25-44 45-64 65+
8. Can we add you to our mailing list? Yes No
Please return your completed questionnaire to Tourism Services Manager,Huntingdonshire District Council, Pathfinder House, St Mary’s Street,Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TN.
The random draw will be made by the end of November 2006. You must be over 18 to enter.
Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is registered with the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purpose of processing personal data. Anydata you provide on this form will be used to monitor and improve the services offered by the Tourism Department of HDC. Where youhave given your consent we will also send you information about places in Huntingdonshire that may be of interest to you. Yourpersonal data will not be passed on to other parties. If you have any other concern about the processing of personal data by HDC,please contact the Data Protection Officer at HDC or the office of the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane,Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
